brushfire

1 of 2

adjective

brush·​fire ˈbrəsh-ˌfī(-ə)r How to pronounce brushfire (audio)
: involving mobilization only on a small and local scale
brushfire border wars

brush fire

2 of 2

noun

1
: a fire involving low-growing plants (such as scrub and brush)
2
: a minor conflict or crisis
putting out political brush fires

Examples of brushfire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Red Flag days declared by Los Angeles are when weather conditions carry the high potential for fast-moving brush fires, according to the city's fire department website. Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026 The forecast comes as fire officials this week tamed a brush fire that burned through more than 11,400 acres of the Everglades in west Broward. Megan Vaz, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2026 Al-Shurman, 28, was reportedly one of two people who died in the crash, which caused a brush fire. Dan Albano, Oc Register, 14 May 2026 What began as a brush fire fused into a single, town-eating front. Literary Hub, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for brushfire

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1954, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of brushfire was in 1850

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Cite this Entry

“Brushfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brushfire. Accessed 17 May. 2026.

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